Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda city directory, 1924, Part 6

Author: Polk-Husted Directory Co
Publication date: 1924
Publisher: Oakland, Cal. : Polk-Husted Directory Co.
Number of Pages: 2232

USA > California > Alameda County > Alameda > Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda city directory, 1924 > Part 6
USA > California > Alameda County > Berkeley > Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda city directory, 1924 > Part 6
USA > California > Alameda County > Oakland > Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda city directory, 1924 > Part 6

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The athletes of the University of California year after year carry off the honors in contests with all American universities, thus proving that California, with its equable coast climate, its out-of-door life and its abund- ance of fruit and vegetable food, together with exceptional sanitation and public health work, is producing a superior physical type of man.

Residents of Berkeley have a singularly favorable chance of rearing all their children to maturity. The infant mortality rate is one of the lowest for any city in the class of cities between fifty and one hundred thousand population in the United States. The rate for 1923 was 41.3 per thousand living births. The death rate for all ages is 9.2 per thousand. This makes Berkeley one of the favored cities of the country from the standpoint of health.

The thorough supervision of the milk supply by the Health Depart- ment, the unceasing care of the water supply by the Eastbay Water Com- pany, and the work of the Welfare Organization with its trained staff of visiting nurses, are important factors in this health record. By far the largest number of deaths in Berkeley occur in the age period between 60 and 80 years, from heart disease, cancer and apoplexy.

Another field in which Berkeley is doing pioneer work is in the Police Department. The basis of Chief August Vollmer's work is in the education of children who show symptoms of potential criminal habits. These chil- dren are all recorded on a pin map and the police have them under their supervision, aiming to train them into good habits. Many of the Berkeley police are college students and college graduates who are receiving a scientific training in modern police work.

Among the features of Berkeley's police system are the equipping of all police officers with Ford cars, a signal system covering the entire city under which police can be mobilized at any point in a few minutes after an alarm is given, and the mechanical lie detector which registers blood pressure and respiration and is believed to indicate any untruth told by a person when questioned. The great emphasis of the Berkeley police de- partment is upon the correction of wrong habits, especially in children, and upon a scientific study of problem cases in order to ascertain the cause of delinquency and the cure.

The fact that in the past ten years only two murders have been com- mitted in Berkeley is an index of results. One was committed by an in- sane man who killed his son, the other by a San Francisco Chinese tong gunman who came to Berkeley and shot a peaceful Chinese merchant of a rival tong.

All charity, welfare and social agencies in Berkeley have recently been organized under a Community Chest and the campaign to finance them was successfully carried through.

Berkeley has just adopted a city manager form of government and the new council with Frank Stringham as mayor has chosen John N. Edy, a man of eminent qualifications for the post as city manager. Berkeley is believed to be on the eve of a great forward stride when the new ad- ministration takes office on July first.

Under the able leadership of Superintendent Harry Wilson, Berkeley has an exceptionally efficient and successful school department. It has the only complete Junior High School system in the United States. Children

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are taught under the new system of group projects, which is as inspiring and fascinating to the children as it is effective in training. Under this system the children are being encouraged in initiative and trained to make their own text books and create scenes and plays expressive of what they are learning.

On the waterfront Berkeley has nearly a hundred industrial plants where diversified types of manufacture are in progress. Chemical, metal and food industries are in the lead. Owing to superior climatic and living conditions, many manufacturers are today seeking locations in this favored city, where the workers live in comfortable individual homes and where out-of-door life is agreeable all the year round.

The hills are attracting many of the leaders of business in the bay cities who commute from their charming homes set in gardens of peren- nial bloom. A ferry and electric train service unexcelled in the country carries them back and forth. Many retired army and navy officers, after seeing the world, have chosen Berkeley for a permanent home.

The Chamber of Commerce is co-operating with the city government in working on a city plan. When completed and carried out, Berkeley should become one of the most beautiful of American cities. It is calling to men and women of distinction in science and art to come to the college city, destined to become more and more the center of learning and culture of the Pacific, to help to plan and to build here a city worthy of this peerless site.

The Indo European stock from which the builders of western civilization have grown, took its origin in the shadow of the Himalayas. The Indian Ocean was its first theater of action. Thence it traveled westward through the Red Sea into the Mediterranean and builded there the civilizations of Greece and Rome. Through the Pillars of Hercules it swept, on into the Atlantic, and Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Britain grew into maturity and strength. Then still westward it moved into the New World, conquering the American wilderness and building the first great democracy that spelled the doom of kings. On it pressed, westward, ever westward, over prairie and plateau, over desert and mountain, until Fremont stood upon the Contra Costa Hills and named the Golden Gate.

Today Berkeley, christened by the founders of the University of Cali- fornia after the idealistic Bishop of Cloyne, stands upon the western-most rim of Western civilization, looking through the Golden Gate, out over the vast waste of the Pacific. Beyond the sea is the ancient East, that land of hoar antiquity teeming with its millions. California is the farthest west where the New World must pile upon the last margin of the Indo European migration. Berkeley, the intellectual center of California, standing upon its hillslopes with the vision of the setting sun in this mystic portal, must look steadfastly through this gateway, and must ponder long on the problem which it conjures to the imagination. The Pacific, now linked by the Pan- ama Canal with the Atlantic, is the center of the civilization of tomorrow. Here where West meets East in trade and the interchange of ideas, is the theater of the mighty deeds of the world to be. Berkeley, the Pacific capitol of learning, must fit itself to be worthy of the leadership which fate has thrust upon it. It must rear a city of supreme beauty wherein men will think great thoughts and exercise that leadership which flows from knowl- edge and high ideals. Come to us, all you who see the vision, and help us to worthily fulfill our destiny. Berkeley, looking through the Golden Gate, is calling you!

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ALAMEDA

Alameda, the Dahlia City-the city of beautiful homes, of an unex- celled climate. This is the appellation which is frequently given to Alameda which is within forty minutes ride by fast electric train and ferry boat from San Francisco.

Alameda is one of the most beautiful of the San Francisco bay cities. It is situated on an island three miles long and one-half mile wide, with San Francisco bay gently lapping the southern and western shores while San Leandro bay borders the east side, and the tidal canal, separating Oak- land and Alameda, bounds the city on the north side.

The city hall of Oakland is but 31/2 miles from the central business dis- trict of Alameda and may be reached by three different street car lines.

Because of the excellence of the climate and the splendid school sys- tem in the city, hundreds of San Francisco and Oakland business men make Alameda their home, and some of the most beautiful small estates in north- ern California are here.

Taxes in Alameda are low with a tax rate for 1923 of $2. This is due to the fact that Alameda owns and operates a municipal electric light plant which gives electricity to consumers at a much lower rate than other neighboring cities pay, the plant profits annually approximate $75,000.

Alameda's school system has reached that pinnacle of efficiency where it is one of the most talked of systems in the entire United States. There are four elementary, three primary and a high school. At the present time the high school district is erecting one of the most modern high schools to the found in the United States at a cost of $1,000,000.

A new $250,000 modern hospital is under course of construction in Alameda. A health center to care for the health of the city has been com- pleted at a cost of $30,000. This money was appropriated from the profits of the Municipal Electric Light Plant.

Five of the most beautiful public parks in Northern California are located within the boundaries of the city. They are the mecca each year for more than one million people who come from miles away to take ad- vantage of the cooling breezes while their children frolic among the trees and foliage or on the sandy beaches or enjoy themselves on the most mod- ern play equipment found anywhere. Attesting to the popularity of the pleasure resorts located on San Francisco bay in Alameda, a careful check shows that between 75,000 and 100,000 people each Sunday during the sum- mer months, visit these resorts to enjoy the surf bathing and other pleas- ures provided for their entertainment.

Alameda has more than 160 miles of excellent paving, and the streets and parks are under the supervision of experts who yearly plant, prune and care for the thousands of beautiful trees which border each boulevard.

Flowers grow in profusion in the city, the dahlia being the most prolific, and some of the prize winners in the large dahlia shows are grown in Alameda. Scores of other blooms are also to be seen, while many houses are partially hid from view by the gorgeous flowering vines such as the wistaria, climbing roses and others.

Besides the advantages of home life which the city offers, it has an unexcelled industrial district located along the shores of the tidal canal where shipping facilities are of the best. This district is also served by a Municipal belt railroad connecting with all transcontinental railroad lines.

Such industries as the Alaska Packers' Association, the largest fishing corporation in the world; the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation; Pacific Coast Borax Co; The Listo Pencil Corporation; Saylor's Chocolates; lum- ber, coal, bridge and oil companies are located in the industrial district. A newspaper, the Alameda Times-Star, carrying the full United Press telegraph report of world news and covering every section of the city in local happenings, is issued each afternoon.

And there is room for other large industries along the tidal canal. Alameda is under the city manager form of government and all branches of the city administration come directly under this official's supervision.

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OAKLAND CITY HALL

159

160

CITY COUNCIL, 1924

CITY COUNCIL OF OAKLAND

Upper Left-WM. J. MOOREHEAD, Com- missioner of Revenue and Finance

Lower Left- -WM. sioner of Streets.

J. BACCUS, Commis-

Upper Right-FRANK COLBOURN. Com- missioner of Public Health and Safety.

Lower Right-ALBERT E. CARTER, Com- missioner of Public Works and The Port. Center-JOHN L. DAVIE, Mayor of Oakland.

161

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

Annual Message of

MAYOR JOHN L. DAVIE To the City Council of Oakland .

JANUARY 14TH, 1924.

Honorable City Council,

City Hall, Oakland, California.

GENTLEMEN:

In accordance with established custom and in conformity with the City Charter, I submit herewith my annual message to your honorable body.

As in several years past. 1923 has in every way exceeded the records of prior years. Each succeeding year has seen figures and records of the preceding year exceeded, and in this 1923 was no exception. Our mer- chants report that business during the past year exceeded that of any year previously, while published statistics show that 1923 was the best year for the shipyards around San Francisco Bay since the decline in shipbuilding and repair at the close of the war. Total business done by the shipyards during that period aggregates over $7,000,- 000, indicative of the general prosperity of the district.

Again Oakland has been recognized for its superiority as an industrial center by having some sixty new industries lo- cate here in the past twelve months. It is also a striking fact that of these many were concerns of nation-wide reputation, such as the Victor Talk- ing Machine Company. The only factory which this company has out- side of its original location in New Jersey is the one now under con- struction in this city and from which their products will be distributed to all parts of the West and the Orient. Another national concern to choose Oakland as a location was Mont- gomery Ward & Company, which has just completed a splendid busi- ness structure on East 14th Street.

Our rapid growth as an automo- tive production center has attracted additional accessory manufacturing companies here. Of these, the West- ern Steel Package Company, during the past summer completed its fac-

New 20-Story Addition to Oakland Tribune Building.

162

MAYOR'S MESSAGE. 1924

tory in East Oakland and is now supplying tanks and other accessories to the Chevrolet. Durant and Star Motor factories. as well as having contracts approximating more than $2.000.000 from local oil companies for tanks and other similar material. The Detroit Steel Products Com- pany. another concern attracted to Oakland by its importance as an automotive center. has pur- chased property in the eastern part of our city on which to erect a factory. The U. S. Light and Heat Corporation is

now manufacturing batteries in its Oakland factory for use in the automobiles being turned out of the local plants. It has heen rumored that the Ford Motor Car Company plans to New Roos Bros. Building at 15th and Broadway. establish a Western factory in Oakland. This will be another recognition of Oakland's rapidly growing importance as an automobile center.

Another company that has been bringing national notice to Oakland is the Magnavox Company on East 14th Street. which reports a business of more than $6.000.000 in 1923 for radio supplies and accessories.

In addition to these nationally known concerns there has been a great number of important industries locating in Oakland during the past year. Building permits during 1923 again exceeded the figures for preceding years by aggregating a total amount of $27.628.175.00. Of these $11.754.093.00 were for the construction of office and business build- ings : the remainder. $15.874.082.00 having gone into the construction of homes. In spite of this tremendous amount being expended in home building construction. there is today a housing shortage in Oakland that will require an even greater amount of home building construction dur- ing the next year in order to meet the situation. and if our rapid growth continues. still additional construction must take place to provide facili- ties for the increasing popula- tion. It seems to be a general understanding. based on sta- tisties gathered by the Public Utility Companies and others. that Oakland's population even 1 now exceeds 300.000 people. -

The past year has seen a number of splendid additions to our office and downtown buildings through the comple- tion of the Medical Building. the Oakland Bank Building. the Roos Building, Midgley Building. the Tribune Tower. Montgomery Ward & Com-

New Building of the Alameda County Title Insurance Company

163

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

pany's building, the additions to department stores of Whitthorne & Swan and Kahn Brothers, the Fox-Oakland Theatre, the occupation of its own building by the Post-Enquirer, and a large number of office buildings erected to replace old structures which have been wrecked. The coming year will witness the completion of a splendid seven-story building for the Alameda County Title Insur- ance Company at the inter- Ci section of 14th and Franklin Streets. the construction of a seven-story office building on 17th Street near Broadway ; announcement has been made of the construction of a new building for the Central Bank at 14th and Broadway; of a building for the Franklin Bank and Trust Company ; the Athens Athletic Club; the Elks Club; a new Orpheum Theater, and other buildings; and the com- mercial development of the block owned by the Southern Pacific Railroad at 14th and 6-Story Addition to Kahn Bros. Store. Franklin Streets.

STREET OPENINGS AND WIDENINGS

Municipal projects during the past year have kept pace with the general growth and development of Oakland. Our program of street openings and widenings has continued unabated. Seventeenth Street was opened between Franklin and Harrison Streets and has been serving as an important traffic artery for several months past. Fifteenth Street between Franklin and Harrison has just been opened for traffic. Contracts have been let for the opening of East 12th Street between 24th and 45th Avenues, and within a short time this highway should be ready to provide relief for the rapidly growing traffic to and from the eastern portion of our city.

In addition to these, proceedings for the opening of the following streets have been instituted and will be car- ried on as rapidly as possible ; Georgia St .. 89th Ave .. West St., Division St .. 76th Ave., 20th St. widening from San Pablo to Harrison St .. Porter St., 92nd Ave .. Bond St .. Franklin St., from 20th to 22nd Sts .. East 8th St., 10th St. from Fallon St. to 4th Ave .. 22nd St. from Broadway to Telegraph Ave., Castro St. to San Pablo Ave. The total amount

331

111111

330

20-Story Tower of The Oakland Bank.

164

MAYOR'S MESSAGE, 1924

expended by the city during the past year on street openings approxi- mates $620.000, while the projects under way will involve the expenditure of $2,105.000.00 in addition.

In addition to these major street opening projects. 22.344 miles of street have been paved or re- surfaced during the past year at a cost of $1.023.954.00, with a large number now under way.

I have previously recom- mended to the Council that a determined effort be made to have a portion of the motor vehicle license fees and fines allocated to the city rather than going entirely to the county as has been the past practice. On several occasions I headed dele- gations of municipal officials appearing before the legislature for this specific purpose.

The present Motor Vehicle Act provides that the money derived from the violation of Inter-Coastal Freighter Tied Up At One of Oakland's Municipal Wharves. any State Motor Vehicle Act within the city limits will be placed in the city treasury for utilization only as a fund for the repairing and improvement of streets over which the motor vehicles are operating. Although this is not the entire recog- nition which the city desired it is a step in the right direction and has provided additional funds for the repair and improvement of our streets.

The Street Department is now planning a comprehensive paving scheme for 1924 which contemplates repaving several important cross- town streets in addition to the projects now under way. These streets include Peralta Street. Market. 40th Street. Excelsior and Hopkins Streets, Shattuck Avenue. Moss Avenue, Grand Avenue, East 14th Street from 1st to 13th Avenues, and others. Completion of the contemplated program will materially improve avenues of traffic between the center of the city and outlying districts.

View of New Municipal Wharf and Warehouse Just Built at Foot of Castro Street.

165

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

HARBOR DEPARTMENT

During the past year the new municipal wharf at the foot of Castro Street has been nearly completed at a cost of $250,000, and this mag- nificent addition to our harbor facilities will soon be available to our ever growing harbor business. General traffic over the Oakland wharves has continued to increase as is shown in the following table which gives an itemization of the traffic for the years 1916, 1922 and 1923 :

Year

Revenues

No. of Ships

Tonnage of Ships 701,135

Handled over C'ity Docks

1916

$ 67,355.06

2,713

531,560 78,849,937

1922

190,564.40

5,856

3,621,457

1,138,752

165,823,991

1923

196,924.01

7,141

3,882,678

813,872 189,824,500

I wish at this time to recommend that serious consideration be given by the Council to the continued improvement of the Western Harbor front. For some time we have had before us a plan for the development of the Western Harbor front in such a way as to provide ultimately for a mole 6000 feet in length by 1000 feet in width, providing 10,200 feet of berthing space, 15 transit sheds 600x125 feet each. CORMICK 9. S .: LINE. and 37,000 feet of storage and switching tracks. I have had this plan on my desk for six years past and I believe that this is the logical time in which to carry it to a successful con- clusion.

Negotiations have just been completed with the owners of

General Cargo on a Municipal Wharf.

الصنف

Proposed Plan of Development on Western Harbor Front.

Cargo Tons

Feet Lumber

166

MAYOR'S MESSAGE, 1924

the property immediately east of the municipal property on the Western Harbor front for the extension of certain streets to the water line. We have completed a mile-long fill for the extension of West 14th Street, at a cost of over $100,000, and steps should be taken immediately for its improvment and paving. I consider that the Western Harbor front and the "White Meat" lying between the Western Pacific and Southern Pacific moles, which is likewise the property of the city, some of the most valuable property owned by the city and which should be given prim- ary consideration in any plan of harbor development. Completion of this plan will give the Western Harbor front the recognition to which it is entitled, and provide unexcelled harbor facilities, and with ample accommodations through its thousands of feet of wharfage, trackage, berthing space, and warehouses for the traffic of the world.

I also wish to recommend the construction of two additional wharves on the Inner Harbor extending out from the quay wall, one at the foot of Grove Street, and another between Grove and Clay Streets. These, together with the development outlined above, and with the recently completed wharf at the foot of Castro Street, would, in my opinion. provide ample facilities for Oakland's harbor for many years to come.

The rapid development of Oakland's harbor traffic resulted early this year in an application by the Santa Fe Railroad for permission to lay tracks along First Street from their present yards to connect with the municipal wharves at Clay and Castro Streets. This permission was granted by the Council and was opposed by the Southern Pacific Com- pany, which attempted to prevent the Santa Fe exercising their right and commenced to lay a Southern Pacific track in the same location.

At my direction the work of the Southern Pacific was stopped and proceedings instituted before the Council for the widening of First Street, which would have given the Santa Fe the right to lay the track requested by them. As a result of this action the Santa Fe and the Southern Pacific came to an agreement by which the new track would be jointly used by all railroads desiring access to the municipal wharves. This track has just been finished and is now accessible for use by all carriers without

Shipping in Oakland Harbor

167

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

PROPOSED ROUTE CLEAN SALT WATER SUPPLYING LAKE

---

Showing Route of Salt Water From Western Harbor Front to Lake Merritt.

discrimination by any one. I consider this as very important as it indi- cates the attitude of the administration. one of equal consideration to all transportation companies.

LAKE MERRITT DEVELOPMENT.

I wish again to recommend that, the completion of the fill for the extension of West 14th Street having been accomplished, serious con- sideration be given to the bringing in of a supply of clean salt water

Oakland's Changing Downtown Skyline

168

MAYOR'S MESSAGE. 1924

through a pipe line to be constructed along 14th Street from the Western Harbor front, and delivering this water into Lake Merritt through cascade fountains located at certain points around the lake. The present inlet to the lake should then be utilized as an outlet only, through a concrete conduit constructed in the present estuary channel. This will permit the filling of the channel and the utilization of this valuable area between Lake Merritt and the waterfront for commercial or recreation purposes. This plan will not only provide an unlimited supply of clean salt water for the lake, thus eliminating the present unhealthful settling basin con- dition of the water, but it will also provide a most valuable addition to our high pressure salt water fire prevention system. As I have before pointed out. the installation of this improvement should bring about a material reduction in the insurance rates in the downtown district. This supply of water could also be made available to the hotels, the Athens Athletic Club and other clubs, and thus provide them, if they so desire, with a source of supply for salt water plunges and baths.

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Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda city directory, 1924, Part 6

Author: Polk-Husted Directory Co Publication date: 1924 Publisher: Oakland, Cal. : Polk-Husted Directory Co. Number of Pages: 2232

Author: Polk-Husted Directory Co
Publication date: 1924
Publisher: Oakland, Cal. : Polk-Husted Directory Co.
Number of Pages: 2232